{"id":115605,"date":"2026-01-02T15:56:21","date_gmt":"2026-01-02T20:56:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/stranger-things-creators-defend-controversial-episode-after-fan-backlash-115605"},"modified":"2026-01-02T15:56:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-02T20:56:21","slug":"stranger-things-creators-defend-controversial-episode-after-fan-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/stranger-things-creators-defend-controversial-episode-after-fan-backlash-115605","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Stranger Things\u2019 creators defend controversial episode after fan backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The creators of Netflix\u2019s “Stranger Things”<\/a> are responding after the hit show\u2019s penultimate episode was review-bombed online following backlash over a coming-out scene involving a main character.<\/p>\n

The episode, titled “The Bridge,” features Will Byers coming out as gay to his family and friends just before the group\u2019s final battle with Vecna, the antagonist. Matt and Ross Duffer, known as the Duffer Brothers, told Variety<\/a> the “honest truth” is that they did not see the outrage coming.<\/p>\n

“Because it is, as Ross said, something we\u2019ve been building for a really long time. I always say, Ross and I are many things, but subtle is not one of those things!” Matt said.<\/p>\n

‘STRANGER THINGS’ STAR, 22, STILL LIVES AT HOME WITH PARENTS DESPITE HOLLYWOOD SUCCESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The brothers said they had been planting seeds for the scene throughout the series and spent more time writing it than any other, noting they were “so concerned about getting it right.”<\/p>\n

NETFLIX SET TO AIR TRANSGENDER COAL MINER FILM ‘QUEEN OF COAL’ IN DECEMBER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

The episode is now the series\u2019 lowest-rated installment on IMDb, receiving a 5.6 out of 10. It also drew backlash on Rotten Tomatoes<\/a>, where the season fell to an 83% critic score and a 56% audience score, the lowest of all five seasons.<\/p>\n

Some viewers online criticized the timing<\/a> of the coming-out scene, saying it felt out of place in preparation for the show\u2019s final battle. But the Duffer brothers argue the scene was necessary for the plot.<\/p>\n

They explained that Will\u2019s coming out as gay was a crucial part of his journey toward self-acceptance, something he needed in order to help defeat the show\u2019s primary villain.<\/p>\n

‘STRANGER THINGS’ STAR MILLIE BOBBY BROWN CHOOSES GEORGIA FARM LIFE OVER HOLLYWOOD AFTER SHOW’S FILMING<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Matt called it “the final step in Will\u2019s journey,” adding that Will is “in so many ways, the key to defeating Vecna.”<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s trying to figure out how to come out, and he knows that he needs to do that, and that that\u2019s the final step for him,” Matt said. “And he finds the courage to be able to do it. And it\u2019s really the ultimate f— you to Vecna. That was the intention.”<\/p>\n

Noah Schnapp, who played Will<\/a>, came out publicly himself in 2023. The creators of the show said they were very sensitive in how they handled the moment due to “how close to home this hit for him [Schnapp].”<\/p>\n

Despite the pushback, the Duffer brothers maintained they were proud of the episode and the entire season.<\/p>\n

“We\u2019re proud of the episode, and we\u2019re proud of the scene, and proud of Noah [Schnapp], who gave a really brave, very vulnerable performance,” Ross said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Source – https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/media\/stranger-things-creators-defend-controversial-episode-after-fan-backlash <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The creators of Netflix\u2019s “Stranger Things” are responding after the hit show\u2019s penultimate episode was review-bombed online following backlash over a coming-out scene involving a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"twitter_2902945987_2902945987":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[16563],"tags":[],"stock_ticker":[],"class_list":["post-115605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-market-news","entry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\u2018Stranger Things\u2019 creators defend controversial episode after fan backlash - Wall Street PR<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/cablemanpro.com\/wallstreetpr\/stranger-things-creators-defend-controversial-episode-after-fan-backlash-115605\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u2018Stranger Things\u2019 creators defend controversial episode after fan backlash - 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